Tractor sales dip in August amidst ‘lumpy demand’
A bounce in sales for smaller tractors a positive, but the retail squeeze came from large drops in the high-horsepower categoriesNational tractor sales are now 11 per cent down on 2024 in a year-to-date (YTD) basis, according to the latest figures from the Tractor and Machinery Association of Australia (TMA).
The sales results for August are literally the antithesis of July, where the steepest falls were in the under-40hp segment as larger horsepower models provided some offset in overall turnover.
In August, that’s been turned on its head, with a promising lift in sales of smaller horsepower tractor sales punctuated by big drops in the 100-200hp and 200hp-plus categories.
The needle was positive for the under 40hp and 40-100hp segments, up 7.5 and 10.8 per cent respectively, while 100-200hp and 200hp-plus were both down by 17.3 per cent.
In terms of YTD, 40-100hp has only contracted 3.3 per cent, while the 200hp-plus category has taken the biggest hit, down 17.6 per cent.
According to the TMA, the industry continues to struggle with “lumpy demand” and high inventory levels, but the organisation’s latest business sentiment survey suggests a slight improvement in short- to medium-term optimism.
Across the different jurisdictions, Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia were all in positive territory compared to August 2024, with NT and WA both up YTD as well.
The news wasn’t as vibrant in New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia, all well down, with Victoria’s YTD result plunging to 20.4 per cent.
Meanwhile, combine harvesters have started to rise in advance of the upcoming season, with sales up four per cent.
Baler and out-front mower sales are down 25 and 41 per cent YTD.
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